Peter Sagan's English is limited, at best. It's getting better every year though and it's still about one million times better than my Slovakian. He had a wee crash yesterday and when asked, before today's stage, how he was feeling, he said: "I'm still alive."

When asked if today would be a good stage for him, he replied: "Every stage is for me. I want to do something."

It's good to be economical with your words.

Our six riders out front are pushing along through the wind as they pass fields of sunflowers. You know the Tour is well under way when the sunflowers are by the roadside.

The sextet are just 80 seconds clear of the peloton. Cannondale are continuing to lead the bunch, with the Astana team of race leader Vincenzo Nibali tucked in behind. And they are motoring, setting off a speed camera that flashes their speed as 53km/h as they zip through a small village.

Niall McFarlane, via text on 81111: Any sightings of Didi Senft (the devil) at this years tour? Believe he has been ill in the last couple of years.

Shaun in Manchester, via text on 81111: Re: Matt in Ascot, I'm not Sagan's biggest fan but saying he should have achieved more by now? 2 green jerseys at the age of 24?

We are three hours into today's stage. The leading six are shifting along at a little over 42km/h so that's about 126km done then. And the Tour de France website helpfully points out that the peloton has passed in front of the Douaumont ossuary, a monumental memorial containing the remains of soldiers who died during the battle of Verdun at WWI.

Today is the third of three stages across northern France, marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War in 1914.

British sprinter Mark Cavendish is on the mend after the crash that ended his Tour de France on stage one. He has tweeted:, external Just had my 1st physio session on my shoulder. Actually feels so nice to move it & it's working well. @theshoulderdoc did a superb job!

Dean Laccohee:, external Sagan needs to show he can compete with the GC riders on the big mountain passes. You can't win a grand tour without that.

John Penn:, external @BDGrimshaw see I disagree. The intermediates mean you need to race for the entire stage rather than just at the end.

Richard Baker:, external Doubt Sagan will ever seriously compete in the GC. He loses too much time in the mountains. He finished 2 hours 38 behind Froome

Green Jersey
Classification

We are bang on halfway through today's stage. And it's very much as you were. Six out front and they are a little more than two minutes clear of the Cannondale-led peloton. The next bit of excitement comes in 30km at the intermediate sprint.

The front six will probably not contest it but expect Peter Sagan to try and be first over the line from the peloton. Europcar's Bryan Coquard, who is second behind Sagan in the green points jersey competition, will be chasing points too.

There's a full rundown of how you score points in Geraint Thomas's stage-by-stage guide.

Alice in London, via text on 81111: Massive congrats to Emma Pooley (see 13:15). If there is a silver lining to Froomie and Cav's misfortune let it be that British cycling interest has a chance to see its other stars! Bon chance to all our women and men.

Matt in Ascot, via text on 81111: Sagan is a talent but in 2014 he should have achieved more by now.

Anon, via text on 81111: The fascinating thing about Sagan will be whether he must make a choice between sprints, one-day races and GTs to avoid being a nearly-man in all 3, or be able to emulate Merckx and do it all. He has an almost identical build to the great man, but I feel that modern cycling rewards specialists rather than all-rounders. Because he's only 24 it all remains to be seen - which is the best part.

Please remember to put names on your texts.

The leading six are hungrily chomping on the goodies that have been left in today's food bags. They will need ever calorie that is on offer. The peloton, led by Peter Sagan's eight Cannondale team-mates, continue to set the tempo of the chasing bunch and they will be dining in a couple of minutes.

Simon Meacher:, external TdF should bring back the red jersey solely for sprinters, keeping the green jersey for all-round points.

CJ: , externalSagan has consistently been near front in stage finishes where Kittel has won 3 but has been placed nowhere for the other 3.

Matt Taggart:, external The points system has already been changed to benefit stage winners, after Cav won 5 stages but not the jersey in 2010. #bbccycling, external

The red jersey was introduced in the early 1980s for winners of intermediate sprints, if I recall rightly, and disappeared a few years later. I'm sure one of you good folk will put me right if I've erred.

Image source, Getty Images

There's not a lot changing out on the road so plenty of time to give our six escapees another namecheck.

There are three Frenchman - Alexandre Pichot of Europcar, Nicolas Edet of Cofidis and Anthony Delaplace of Bretagne-Seche, Switzerland's Martin Elmiger of the IAM Cycling team, Poland's NetApp Endura rider Bartosz Huzarski and American Matthew Busche, who rides for Trek.

Their lead is two minutes, 45 seconds and they have 130km to ride before they reach Nancy.

Sam in Plymouth, via text on 81111: Thomas needs to move if he wants to win. He's a more than accomplished rider, should have a few stage wins by now. Team Sky are very focused on their one objective, domestiques don't have the chance to really push on.

While the Tour de France is going on, the top women riders are in the middle of their big stage race of the season, the Giro Rosa. Britain's Emma Pooley won stage six.

And, in an effort not to be outdone by their male counterparts, Wiggle Honda photographer Bart Hazen has tweeted a picture showing the United Healthcare bus stuck at the finish on stage seven. It's reminiscent of the Orica GreenEdge bus which suffered a similar fate on stage one of the 2013 Tour de France.

Image source, Bart Hazen (Wiggle Honda)

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

The riders are still some 20km away from getting their food bags today, although if they maintain their average speed of 42.7km/h from the opening couple of hours, they've not got too long to wait.

In the meantime, can I direct you towards the always-excellent Bespoke podcast - Radio 5 live commentator Rob Hatch and summariser Rob Hayles discuss all things Tour de France at the end of each stage. The podcast goes up fairly quickly and, in case you've missed it, here is the one from yesterday.

The Robs will be providing commentary on the closing stages of today's race, from 15:00 BST. Because Test Match Special is hogging Radio 5 live Sports Extra, you will only be able to listen to their insightful comments on this very website. The link is at the top of this page.

Feeling inspired to get out there on your bike? It might be worth taking a bit of time to read this from British Cycling:, external Another long day in the saddle @letour. Planning a long ride? Read our nutrition guide., external

Will, via text on 81111: He isn't quite there yet but I believe in two to three years, with a better suited team, Sagan will be a serious GC contender and potentially comparable with Merckx in his all round ability.

Max in London, via text on 81111: Peter Sagan looks good. He's got complete control of the green jersey yet is still 3rd overall! What a rider.

Matt in Derby, via text on 81111: What do we make of Contador's long spells in 2nd wheel at the front yesterday? Show of strength or a rider nervous of any chance of losing more time in cross winds... He's been caught out before. If he loses more time can anyone else challenge Nibali?

And on the back of Gareth's text from 1243 - is Geraint Thomas the next big hope for British road cycling? He's 28, so only one year younger than Chris Froome - does he need to move teams to have a better chance of becoming a GC rider?

A quick update from the road, where the six out front have just completed one-third race distance on today's seventh stage from Epernay to Nancy.

Their lead is remaining steady at two minutes, 40 seconds.

Image source, Tour de France

John McErnerney:, external I can't separate Hinault & LeMond as the most complete! Only 4 his climbing Sean Kelly would be up there with them, 4 GJs 11 ODC #bbccycling

Ben Grimshaw:, external TdF needs to up points for stage wins + reduce points on intermediate sprints. Sagan 0 stage wins; Kittel 3, yet 80pt gap!

ODC - one-day classics and Kittel is not even second in points race, he's third, a further two points adrift. Sagan is top with 217, Coquard has 137 and Kittel 135.

Image source, EPA

Peter Sagan will not have it all his own way this afternoon. Remember Simon Gerrans? You know, that Australian bloke who knocked Mark Cavendish out of the Tour in his mother's hometown on stage one.*

The Orica GreenEdge rider (pictured above on his head) is half decent on these kinds of finishes and is hoping to be involved.

The Australian national champion told the Tour de France website: "I've recovered since the crash but I'm still not at 100% of my capacities. I'm getting better each day though. There's still lots of bruising coming out.

"I must wait and see on the road how I feel today before I know if I can be a contender for today's stage. But my intention is to go for it. In the team, we also have Michael Albasini as a back-up rider in case I can't do it."

*Cavendish accepted all responsibility for the accident.

Gareth, via text on 81111: Geraint Thomas could be most complete British cyclist - can climb, ride cobbles and time trial. Needs to be given the freedom to shine.

Kate in Kingston, via text on 81111: In time Sagan could be a GC contender with the right team behind him he could be switching green for yellow.